inspired by Fandango’s One Word Challenge (FOWC) of 10 September 2021, bamboozle.

Christmas night, it was hard to enthuse,
We decided a game might amuse,
So we all played Bamboozle,
Despite Grandpa’s refusal,
Who decided he’d far sooner snooze.

As a boy, I remember a lull every year on the evening of Christmas Day. Every year (my parents were creatures of habit) we would invite my dad’s side around. Grandparents, uncles, aunties, the works.

Lunch would be timed to be ending just about 3 PM, for that was the time the (UK) queen came on TV. In those days, there was little choice, and I think it was broadcast on all the channels simultaneously. No escape!

Five minutes later, and the Bond movie came on. In those days, it was the only time each year that you could watch one on TV, so the movies had some novelty value. It’s ironic, really, when you think how cheap these movies actually are.

Plus, nowadays, you can probably see one airing every night, if you’re prepared to wade through the channels.

The movie would finish by teatime, and most of the family would just settle down to discuss the price of fish, or more likely to snooze in a chair somewhere.

Everyone was older than me. As an only child, I got bored. My dad’s only sibling had emigrated, so there were not even cousins to play with. And I would be screaming for one of the grown-ups to play a party game with me.

Bear in mind, this was before computers. Books were an option, but I read books every other day of the bloody year anyhow!

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